Measham Museum

MUSEUM and History Group

The Measham Station, off Mannings Terrace, High Street, Measham, DE12 7HU. honoured to have won Leics. Museums, Arts and Records Service

HERITAGE AWARDS

Highly Commended 1992
1st prize for Streets Exhibition 1999
Achieved National Registration Status 2000
Award for 'Special Innovation' for 'Education Packs' 2002

ADMISSION £1

Children admitted FREE when accompanied by adult,

OPENING HOURS

• Tuesdays 10am-12noon, 2pm-4.00pm
• Thursday 2—4
• Saturdays: 10 am-12noon & 2—4pm.
• ALSO by Special Request in Advance for parties

Opened on 1st December 1992
Measham Museum in its first year attracted over 1000 visitors and won a Highly Commended Award, from the Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Service. Exhibitions, researched and mounted for us by Measham Local History Society, have included "Mining in Measham" "Measham at Play" , "Measham in World War 2" and "Personalities and Characters of Old Measham", "Measham- a Century of Change"., and The 'Millenium Exhibition' covering many topics of village life., and the 'Lost Treasures of Measham' - 'photos and detail of the lovely old buildings demolished in the last 50 years. Latest Exhibitions are '100 years of Measham Weddings., 'Schools and Education in Measham'., and 'Measham Station and Railway'.

Central to the museum is the Dr. Hart collection, a treasury of artefacts, pictures, letters and documents recording the history of a Midland village through the eyes of two local doctors - father and son - over nearly a century.
Linked to the Hart Collection are items recalling the coal mining, terracotta and pottery traditions of this area, where mining was first recorded in the 13th century .

Traditionally associated with the canal people, Measham Ware dates from the last quarter of the 19th century. Sometimes known as Rockingham Ware, it was produced in Church Gresley and Woodville, the last known pieces being dated 1914.
Measham Museum's earliest teapot is dated 1886. All kinds of tea-table ware were made in the characteristic dark brown glaze, covered in shiny sprigs of flowers and bird. They were commissioned and sold by Mrs Annie Bonas from her shop on High Street, Measham, near where the Museum is housed.

Museum Staff welcome School Parties by Appointment. EDUCATION PACKS of photographs are Available to borrow for school use and Sheets of village history relevant to the School curriculum. A questionnaire relevant to the current exhibitions and artefacts is available for children in the museum and younger children can have the use of crayons and a Measham Teapot picture to colour. Measham A brief history. by Margaret Onion Although not a big settlement, Measham was mentioned in the Domesday Book 1086: MESSEHAM: King's land; land for three ploughs. The Manor of Measham belonged to the King (William 1st), followed by the de Measham family until 1308 and later by William de Beresford in whose suzerainty a market and three day fair was granted in 1310. Records show that the village was a farming community, but coal mining was being undertaken from the 13th century. William de Beresford was killed whilst getting coal in 1326. An enquiry after his death stated: 'The coal there is worth 13s. 4d yearly'

Other holders of the manor included Walter Blount, who was created Lord Mountjoy, and was Lord High Treasurer of England in 1464.

Joseph Wilkes, one of the most influential men of the Industrial Revolution, purchased the manor for £50,000 in 1780. For Measham, a prosperous period then began .This lasted well into the next century with coalmines, banking, tramways and brick works; boot, lace, cotton and bleach mills; and the Ashby Canal. Wilkes was a giant amongst industrialists.... and his JUMB BRICKS (made to avoid paying extra tax), can still be seen in a few buildings in the older part of Measham.

Other interesting sights in the Village include: the St. Laurence Church, rebuilt in 1340 on an existing site of a Chapel of Ease whichdated from 1172., the Baptist Chapel, erected in 1811, although the Baptist Ministry had been active in thevillage since the 1730's.,

The Temperance Hall ( now Age Concern) has been the venue for many activities in the village since 1852.

Measham is still making history. In 1992 the village became the first rural Housing Renewal Area in the country and was designated the first Model Village for the new National Forest

Would you like to be a FRIEND OF MEASHAM MUSEUM?

A Small contribution of £5.00 per year, Paid annually on the 1st April – To cover the whole family to visit as many times as you wish, Application forms available at the Museum.